Towns and cities across the UK were experiencing an exciting urban revival before the pandemic hit. The face of the high street was changing, green spaces were cropping up, and the demand for city centre living was continuing to drive how people enjoyed and experienced their local communities. The pandemic
In a bid to match the ‘creative disruption’ of its students, Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) has exclusively built, engineered and launched its new 2022 prospectus via social media platform Instagram. The new world first, which was developed in collaboration with leading design agency Bond & Coyne, has seen the specialist
Cadline has launched a new platform called DynamicAIM, to address a major crisis for building and asset owners, providing the “golden thread” required within the construction and housing industry. DynamicAIM is a first of its kind, all-in-one solution for digitising build details including all BIM, survey and asset information, enabling
Growing edibles and keeping your potted plants alive is often tricky in the moody British weather. A greenhouse can save the day – or season – but buying one might be expensive. Nevertheless, you don’t have to invest your hard-earned money. All it takes is a few materials and some
Staying true to its culture of innovation, Sika has launched Sikalastic-652N, an upgraded version of one of its most popular liquid-applied single-component polyurethane waterproofing membranes, Sikalastic-625. This versatile, durable cold-applied membrane is used up and down the UK in a range of flat roof applications, from industrial and commercial roofs
Leading renewable bioenergy specialists Fleetsolve has signed a partnership with Dutch engine company MAN Rollo BV to supply the growing UK combined heat and power market as part of their ambitious growth plans. Under the new partnership Fleetsolve becomes the UK distributor for MAN Rollo’s engines, parts and services for
Panattoni, the industrial property market leader in Europe, is due to deliver a dedicated facility for TJX Europe, the owner of the TK Maxx brand and a leading off-price clothing and homeware retailer. The 658,051 sq ft distribution centre will be located in Sulechów, Western Poland. This facility will help
Moda Living, the UK’s fastest growing developer and operator of homes for rent, and main contractor John Sisk & Son released a commemorative video to mark the topping out at The Mercian, Birmingham’s tallest residential tower. In a step away from traditional topping out ceremonies and under the limitations of the current lockdown restrictions,
Award-winning architecture and interiors practice, Hollaway Studio is responsible for the extensive restoration and refigurement of the historic two acre site of Twickenham Studios, London’s oldest film studio. Combining the refurbishment and development of the existing onsite buildings with newly designed and built areas to cater for much-needed additional space, Hollaway
MCI Developments, part of national homebuilder Keepmoat Homes, has expanded its operations into Yorkshire and the Midlands with the appointment of two new Regional Managing Directors. Nigel Robson and Ken Phillips have joined MCI Developments as the company looks to expand into new regions and markets in 2021. Their primary
Towns and cities across the UK were experiencing an exciting urban revival before the pandemic hit. The face of the high street was changing, green spaces were cropping up, and the demand for city centre living was continuing to drive how people enjoyed and experienced their local communities. The pandemic stopped us all in our tracks as people have been staying at home for prolonged periods of time and reassessing their priorities when it comes to where they live, how they shop, and how they spend their money. James Cook, Head of Planning at Blacks Solicitors, shares his thoughts on how recent planning changes will impact our towns and cities as we begin to ease out of lockdown and move to a post-Covid world. Covid has had a radical impact across almost every aspect of society, and it’s no different when it comes to town and city centre planning; it has accelerated many changes which were already being experienced. How has retail changed? The role of retail in our towns and city centres has changed dramatically in recent years. There are various reasons for this, from advances in technology and online shopping, to the lifecycle of certain retail formats. We were already in a position pre-Covid where evolution was critical to maintain footfall and keep people engaged. The growth in city centre living combined with more varied working hours had also highlighted the need for easy access to flexible format convenience shopping and other services within our towns and city centres. Post pandemic it will become even more crucial to offer a more diversified shopping experience alongside a wider mix of uses. From 1 September 2020 a new broad “Commercial, business and service” Use Class E was created, combining uses such as retail, restaurants, cafes, offices, gyms and health centres into one broad category. With certain exceptions, changes within this class will not require planning permission. The legislation has at its heart a more general desire from the Government to provide flexibility for businesses to adapt, diversify and respond quickly to the changing demands of communities. Supporting housing delivery in town and city centres, and on the high street Permitted development rights allowing the change of use of various premises have also evolved. In August 2020 a new permitted development right was introduced to allow the demolition of purpose-built detached blocks of flats, offices and light industrial premises, and replace them with purpose-built detached buildings for use as flats or a single dwelling house. Additional rights also provided for the construction of new dwellings on top of purpose-built detached blocks of flats; and certain other buildings. These rights are subject to certain conditions as well as a prior approval process. The Government has recently consulted upon further changes to support housing delivery including a new permitted development right to allow the change of use from a use or mix of uses within the new Class E to residential use, subject to conditions and prior approvals. The Government described this as going “significantly beyond existing rights, allowing for restaurants, indoor sports, and creches etc. to benefit from the change of use to residential under permitted development rights for the first time.” These changes are radical and controversial with questions being asked about the impact of the loss of commercial spaces and infrastructure investment the changes may generate a need for. Greener and healthier cities The pandemic highlighted the need for green infrastructure to be at the heart of the creation and regeneration of city centres moving forward, particularly to respond to the fact that many people living in urban centres have limited or even no private outdoor amenity space. This will not only enable us to adapt to climate change and reduce pollution, but make towns and cities more liveable. Looking ahead Covid has emphasised the changes that were already happening to our town and city centres. The Government has taken the opportunity to introduce further planning related flexibility for uses and changes of use which it hopes will kick start the post Covid economic recovery. It remains to be seen whether these changes strike the right balance between the flexibility and the correct amount of regulation needed to revive our town and city centres after lockdown.
In a bid to match the ‘creative disruption’ of its students, Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) has exclusively built, engineered and launched its new 2022 prospectus via social media platform Instagram. The new world first, which was developed in collaboration with leading design agency Bond & Coyne, has seen the specialist arts university build and host their 2022 prospectus entirely over Instagram; an environment where it says its audience is already crafting, creating and curating the artistic heritage of the future. Internationally recognised for its state-of-the-art specialist digital and creative facilities and graduate programmes, AUB is home to the UK’s first purpose-built arts school Drawing Studio for more than a century, and Bournemouth Film School, which fuses a raft of big screen and cinematic specialisms into an industry-renowned filmmaking institution. AUB’s concept has been underpinned by research demonstrating an increase in school-leavers using social media, particularly Instagram, to identify university choice. Reports by education research group EAB in 2017 and 2019 highlighted Instagram’s growth in popularity, as well as a decline in the use of competitor platforms Facebook and Twitter. AUB’s new prospectus creates a real-time conversation with an audience, offering an opportunity, for the first time ever, to discover and understand what content inspires one of Europe’s most thriving digital and creative environments. The entirely-digital platform presents the university a unique opportunity to host multimedia and live content. No longer limited by the restrictions of print media, course detail is dynamic and easily navigable, immediately immersing prospective students among the university’s creative narrative, or out to their website. Head of Student Recruitment and Marketing, Simon Pride, said: “In the highly competitive and increasingly global HE environment, innovation and disruption are key to standing out. Particularly if you are a small creative specialist university like AUB, vying for the attention of one of the most marketing literate/marketing cynical audiences there is to communicate with – young creatives. “For us, an important part of standing out was to avoid the “broadcast” nature of many university marketing campaigns. We wanted to take a step towards our audience and open a conversation with them through their own media – their own world. Our students use Instagram to stage their most creative and disruptive work, so why shouldn’t we?” “Working across a network of inter-connected accounts we’ve created an AUB brand experience that is richer in content than any printed prospectus could ever be. A ‘hero’ social media account gives an overview of AUB and signposts 28 individual social media accounts for every course or level of study.” He added: “AUB’s Instagram prospectus can host live events. It can start a conversation. It can be updated throughout the year, as and when information changes or exciting events happen that we wish to share. Content can be shared immediately with friends and family, not to mention a monthly live Instagram community of more than 1billion users. “Ultimately, our aim was to create a communication project that lived up to the values we strive to instil in our students – to be bold and innovative in their practice. And with the help of some super-talented AUB alumni, we think we’ve done that.” AUB’s digital prospectus is among a range of new online and digital content the university is using to showcase its collaborative approach to creative arts education; using student and staff work to demonstrate the quality of its arts practice. The digital-first approach also helps them reduce their impact on the environment. With a new website launched in June 2020, the university is also launching AUB:360, a new virtual campus experience and interactive glimpse of AUB’s specialist facilities, designed by the university’s In-House Digital Designer and Photographer. Founded as a specialist art and design institution more than 100 years ago, AUB’s notable alumni include Harry Potter and Star Wars Creature Designer Nick Dudman, Film Director Edgar Wright, Fashion Photographer Nick Knight and Architect Professor Sir Peter Cook. The TEF Gold university has won two Queen’s Anniversary Prizes and is the UK’s top specialist art and design university, according to The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021.
Cadline has launched a new platform called DynamicAIM, to address a major crisis for building and asset owners, providing the “golden thread” required within the construction and housing industry. DynamicAIM is a first of its kind, all-in-one solution for digitising build details including all BIM, survey and asset information, enabling property owners and managers to securely preserve and access vital information when needed. Local authorities, housing developers, and manufacturing sites are among the first to adopt DynamicAIM, including associations such as Peabody and Wolverhampton Council. “As our go-to 3D survey and BIM supplier, Cadline’s DynamicAIM helps us digitise our stock and centralise data whilst working towards conforming to the Hackitt report and new government guideline,” said a spokesperson from Peabody. Asset owners are facing a critical point for building safety as The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has this week revealed new guidance on which types of properties require additional inspections. This means asset owners need to be prepared to hand over vital information at any time, as outlined in the Hackitt report. Where build details, drawings, measurements, certifications and manuals would traditionally be produced manually and stored separately, the ability to digitally store and view all details in one platform means asset managers are able to more effectively and safely maintain buildings and facilities. DynamicAIM is enabling firms to comply with the Building Safety Bill – which is likely to require a digital version of residential buildings above 18 metres. “It is a building owner’s responsibility to preserve asset information in order to have the means to appropriately maintain the building and its contents. The failings in this regard are well documented throughout the Grenfell Tower fire inquiry and while property managers struggle to search for historical data that is either outdated, inaccurate, or no longer exists,” added Matt Lees, Head of Engineering at Cadline. “Now, all asset details from specific measurements right through to large-scale plans can be shared among architects, stakeholders, fire engineers and safety managers in one platform. This has been critical for those addressing immediate safety requirements, and to provide better transparency for stakeholders, tenants and staff.” DynamicAIM is built on Cadline’s existing, robust DynamicMaps functionality. It has been created as one solution to address demand from existing Cadline clients. DynamicAIM handles big data and enables asset owners and managers to view any element of the building virtually, via 3D model or 360 HD virtual tours. It also has the ability to obtain measurements, making future adjustments, repairs or maintenance much easier and quicker to carry out. As an Autodesk partner, Cadline specialises in supporting customers in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Manufacturing industries.
Growing edibles and keeping your potted plants alive is often tricky in the moody British weather. A greenhouse can save the day – or season – but buying one might be expensive. Nevertheless, you don’t have to invest your hard-earned money. All it takes is a few materials and some handyman skills to recycle stuff and make yourself a one-of-a-kind greenhouse. Here are 5 awesome DIY greenhouse ideas to get you inspired. 1. Welded Wire Greenhouse A hoop greenhouse is very easy to build from galvanised wire used for fencing and clear plastic rolls. You could use standard cattle panels, too – you can procure them from your local hardware store. The panels are ideal to build a simple wireframe that is both solid and flexible. The rounded roof is an excellent choice if you live in an area with strong winds. If you feel fancy, you could even fix a standard door frame to the wire structure before covering both the structure and the door with clear plastic. A perfect greenhouse for most vegetables, including all kinds of beans, various leafy greens, and tomatoes. 2. CD Case Greenhouse Do you have lots of old CDs you don’t listen to anymore? Don’t bin them. CDs can be used for many creative projects, and their empty cases are perfect for making an original and fully functional greenhouse. It won’t be big enough for you to walk and stand into, but it will be big enough for a few pots. All you need is around 40 CD cases and some glue. Using a simple greenhouse model, glue cases together to create the walls and roofs. The clear plastic cases will create a protected environment for your perennials to thrive throughout winter. 3. Plastic Bottle Greenhouse Acrylic greenhouses are on the wave, but plastic for a greenhouse doesn’t necessarily have to mean acrylic. Old plastic bottles are an excellent alternative, and a nice solution if you’re looking to save money and the planet whilst growing edibles. The bottles are very easy to tie together with clear plastic string or wire and you can use them for the walls and roof of a standard wooden frame. Making a greenhouse has never been easier. 4. Old Windows Greenhouse There is hardly anything as satisfying as making a greenhouse out of recycled objects. Including old windows. There are many ways to transform old windows into a greenhouse, but perhaps the easiest is to make a cube or rectangle out of them. Use a smaller window as a door – this greenhouse is perfect for smaller pots, or you could use more windows to cover a raised bed. 5. DIY Fold-Down Greenhouse A greenhouse may not be useless in the summer months, so why not make a fold-down one for your plants to thrive in all kinds of weather. Like the welded wire greenhouse, this project uses clear plastic but this time fixed on a foldable frame. Ideal for covering your raised beds and protecting your vegetables from wind and cold temperatures.
Staying true to its culture of innovation, Sika has launched Sikalastic-652N, an upgraded version of one of its most popular liquid-applied single-component polyurethane waterproofing membranes, Sikalastic-625. This versatile, durable cold-applied membrane is used up and down the UK in a range of flat roof applications, from industrial and commercial roofs to balconies and walkways. The new and improved Sikalastic-625N incorporates Sika’s patented i-Cure Technology, an enhanced chemistry that gives the product greater temperature stability, extended shelf life and improved workability. Thanks to these benefits, the waterproofing membrane is capable of curing in a wide range of conditions, making it ideal for use in the unpredictable UK climate. Application is quick, easy, and will not be delayed by adverse weather, which is a huge benefit for the specifier, contractor and client. “We’re excited to be able to offer our customers the benefits of our exclusive new i-Cure Technology with the launch of Sikalastic-625N. It delivers a whole host of performance enhancements while maintaining the trusted weather resistant waterproofing properties of its predecessor,” said Gavin White, Marketing and Product Manager at Sika Roofing. “Sika has been manufacturing high performance protection and waterproofing systems for over 50 years and we’re proud of that expertise. Our aim isn’t just to pioneer new market-leading technologies, but also to continually improve existing ones – especially those that are already loved by our customers,” he added. The high quality and durability achieved by this membrane is evidenced by its BBA and ETA Accreditations. Sikalastic-625N is a direct replacement and upgrade to the existing Sikalastic-625 formulation and will be available in the same colour range and tin sizes. Coverage rates and guarantees – 10, 15 and 20 years – also remain the same.
Leading renewable bioenergy specialists Fleetsolve has signed a partnership with Dutch engine company MAN Rollo BV to supply the growing UK combined heat and power market as part of their ambitious growth plans. Under the new partnership Fleetsolve becomes the UK distributor for MAN Rollo’s engines, parts and services for the combined heat and power (CHP) sector from its Wirral headquarters and its five regional service centres. This partnership also creates 20 new jobs in the North West. MAN Rollo BV is a global player and has been supplying diesel and gas engines to the industrial and maritime sectors across 9 countries for over 100 years. The engines are used in power and heat supply, agricultural machines, cranes and trains, work vessels, coastal and inland vessels. “This partnership is a significant milestone in the Fleetsolve journey. We’re proud to partner with such a prestigious global company as MAN Rollo and relish the opportunity to work together to support the existing and new customer markets that are out there. We both have ambitious plans for growth and continue to buck the trend of the pandemic by expanding and recruiting more people to support this opportunity,” said Keith O’Connor, CEO of Fleetsolve. “It not only future proofs the supply of MAN parts and service for the UK market following Brexit, but it also supports our plans to supply all industry sectors with all fuel types and all sizes of power generation, ranging from 5KW to 2.5MW.This partnership is a significant first in providing a seamless customer journey helping UK businesses transition from gas and diesel engines that need to be maintained in a sustainable way, to a carbon-zero future in line with legislation,” he added. Although Fleetsolve is best known for its ‘green’ biofuel CHP systems, the UK CHP market is dominated by a range of complementary technologies including natural gas, methane and diesel which need to be supported and maintained efficiently for the next 10 years as the market moves to renewable fuels of the future. Rather than customers abandoning their legacy heat and power equipment, Fleetsolve understands that in the short term these engines will need to be expertly maintained and serviced. The partnership with MAN Rollo is a logical step next step for Fleetsolve and sees their ambitious growth plans develop opportunities to support a full range of CHP systems powered by gas, methane, biopropane (bio-LPG), biofuels and diesel. For CHP units nearing the end of their engine life, Fleetsolve’s hydrogen-ready engine swap service will see these units operating into a low carbon future to meet the 2050 Carbon Commitment. “We believe that Fleetsolve is in the position to fulfil customer demand for premium industrial solutions. Their knowledge, experience and customer relations make them a powerful partner. We welcome them to our team,” Michel van Gulik, General Manager MAN Rollo concluded.
Panattoni, the industrial property market leader in Europe, is due to deliver a dedicated facility for TJX Europe, the owner of the TK Maxx brand and a leading off-price clothing and homeware retailer. The 658,051 sq ft distribution centre will be located in Sulechów, Western Poland. This facility will help to supply products to TK Maxx shops in Poland, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. “Thanks to its strategic location in the centre of Europe, Poland has increasingly become a hub for companies’ operations across the continent. That benefits especially the western part of the country, thanks to the proximity to the German border and it attracts leaders from various industries, as an ideal location for development even during a pandemic”. She added: “We are pleased that TJX Europe keeps investing and growing successfully, and that they have chosen us as an important partner in this development,” commented Dorota Jagodzinska, Managing Director at Panattoni. Tailor-made project. On 57 acres of land Panattoni will execute a strategic investment for TJX Europe. It will be a processing centre supporting to supply products in Poland, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. The BTS facility of 358,051 sq ft – of which 60,751 sq ft will be occupied by rooms for personnel and offices – is being built in Western Poland, in Sulechów – 13 miles from Zielona Góra. The investment will be ready by autumn\winter 2022\2023. It will include an attractive new landscaped area, be self-contained with full security fence. The Sulechów facility will be the company’s sixth distribution centre in Europe. “Western Poland is a dynamically growing region that attracts many investors from Poland and abroad thanks to its advanced road network, vicinity to Germany and Western Europe and its large pool of high-skilled labour. We are extremely happy to have supported TJX Europe on their development of this strategic regional distribution centre in Poland,” said Tom Listowski, Partner, Head of Industrial and Warehouse, Central and Eastern Europe, Cresa. Tailoring to measure. The BTS project for TJX Europe is another investment implemented by Panattoni for the apparel sector. Like a tailor, the developer tailors a facility to the client’s needs – like a clothing constructor, Panattoni thoroughly analyses the needs, constructs and¬ finally creates a custom design. These individual solutions are determined by a complex supply chain system with a constant flows of goods for new models or by an increasingly complex supply management process. Most of these services are no longer performed in stores but in distribution centres, and Panattoni, as an experienced developer, supports its clients in implementing such investments.
Moda Living, the UK’s fastest growing developer and operator of homes for rent, and main contractor John Sisk & Son released a commemorative video to mark the topping out at The Mercian, Birmingham’s tallest residential tower. In a step away from traditional topping out ceremonies and under the limitations of the current lockdown restrictions, the milestone was marked virtually. Teams from Moda, its investment partner Apache Capital, and Sisk, from apprentices to directors, were joined by sub-contractors Morrisroe, Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street, Glenn Howells Architects, and some other familiar faces from across the city, in a video, passing a hard hat from frame to frame, before eventually making its way to The Mercian’s rooftop, where the final pour took place. In addition to the passing of the hard hat from frame to frame, the video also shows five ceremonial mementos used historically to mark the topping out of a development to ward off any evil spirits “trapped” in the building when the envelope was sealed. The five items – wine, salt, oil, corn, and yew-tree sprigs – each are said to bring prosperity and good fortune to the building and its residents. The video, which takes inspiration from the recent viral ‘pass it on’ challenge seen across social media, acknowledges the hard work undertaken by everyone working to bring The Mercian to life, despite lockdowns and restrictions. As Birmingham’s tallest residential tower, The Mercian will be a local landmark that knits itself into the fabric of the city as a destination the local population can be proud of. Designed by Birmingham-based Glenn Howells Architects and delivered by Sisk, The Mercian will be home to 481 intergenerational apartments for rent, ranging from studios to three-beds, with a raft of unparalleled amenities, including 24-hour concierge, shared lounges, flexible workspaces and a cinema room and private dining spaces for residents to hire. On track to complete in 2022, The Mercian will also provide residents with quality health and wellness zones, including a 200m podium open-air running track on the roof and high-spec residents’ gym, as well as a host of partnerships and services from local health and wellness brands across Birmingham. In addition, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has funded a training hub during the construction of The Mercian, creating 140 job opportunities for locals and equipping them with valuable skills for their future careers by offering construction training and a guaranteed job interview after completing a 20-day course. Moda recently received planning a second neighbourhood in Birmingham, Great Charles Street, which will deliver 720 homes for rent alongside new public realm, mixed commercial space, and a range of market-leading amenities.
Award-winning architecture and interiors practice, Hollaway Studio is responsible for the extensive restoration and refigurement of the historic two acre site of Twickenham Studios, London’s oldest film studio. Combining the refurbishment and development of the existing onsite buildings with newly designed and built areas to cater for much-needed additional space, Hollaway Studio has helped to create a studio site worthy of the productions produced there to reflect Twickenham Studio’s growing success and importance to the local community. Constructed in 1913 on the site of a former ice rink, Twickenham Studios was purpose built to be the largest film studio in the UK. Surviving bomb damage during two world wars, the studios have played host to countless cinematic classics including ‘The Italian Job’ (1969), three of the Beatles’ films – ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ (1964), ‘Help!’ (1965) and ‘Let It Be’ (1970) – as well as more recent Academy Award and BAFTA winning productions such as ‘War Horse’ (2011) the 2018 films ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ (2018), ‘Baby Driver’ (2018), and ‘1917’ (2020). Like a stage set itself, the design concept was inspired by the process of design and construction within the film industry. Mindful of Twickenham Studios’ vital history, Hollaway Studio, alongside The Creative District Improvement Company (TCDICo.), which has drawn up the scheme, emphasised respecting and restoring the existing building fabric, while weaving in new state of the art facilities. Hollaway Studio’s focus on the restoration and reconfiguration of the existing site has meant that much of it will remain as it is with visual improvements proposed through the careful enhancement of existing architectural features. This sustainable approach ensures less material and construction waste, causing minimal impact to the ongoing activities on-site. As well as external works, internal spaces will be refurbished to modern day high-spec standards. With sustainability imperative to the site a number of approaches have been taken including green and blue roofs across all new additions to the site, not only increasing biodiversity but also contributing to effective drainage. Architectural and decorative features of the historic original elevation along St. Margaret’s Road have been examined and manipulated to create a playful and expressive façade. In order to achieve this detailed effect, moulded panels filled with pigmented concrete have been proposed; the pigmentation allows for the new concrete façade to marry into the neighbouring existing Victorian ones, and the detailed casting system permits the construction of complex and detailed shapes and patterns. This is produced digitally, and fabricated with CNC-milled panels, which are used to cast the concrete either in-situ, or prefabricated off-site. These considered results pay homage to the stage set, providing the public a window into the site and the processes beyond, and allowing people to appreciate the remarkable part that Twickenham Studios have played in the British film industry. Hollaway Studio has created a new entrance building for the Studios in the form of a prominent corner building, that offers a strikingly defined approach to the site and will house a café and heritage centre open to the public on the ground floor, with office and co-working spaces situated above. Beyond the addition of much needed contemporary touches, Hollaway Studio sought to create a visual storytelling experience; users will traverse through decades into the existing 1970s architecture of the production offices and ‘The Lounge’. Historic imagery of the site and its notable productions on the façades to Studio 3 will further project the continued importance of Twickenham Studios. Studio 1, while remaining much the same, will have new PV solar panels incorporated into its refurbishment that will feed into the sustainable energy use of the site. The proposed signage to introduce Stage 1 will reflect the historic signage that once inhabited the façade along St Margaret’s Road. Users will then be transported through the sets of the ongoing productions and then further past the studios and into a new boutique cinema which will showcase the works produced in house. The art department and refurbished post-production facilities will inhabit existing buildings extending into a lightweight roof extension at the rear of the two acre site. These extensions have been designed so that they can be pre-fabricated and moved onto site with minimal interruption to the ongoing productions. This approach also means that materials and components will be maximised with minimal waste. These new proposals will look out onto the newly created external landscaped courtyard space that will be host to an airstream café and outdoor seating.
MCI Developments, part of national homebuilder Keepmoat Homes, has expanded its operations into Yorkshire and the Midlands with the appointment of two new Regional Managing Directors. Nigel Robson and Ken Phillips have joined MCI Developments as the company looks to expand into new regions and markets in 2021. Their primary focus will consist of creating strategic objectives to establish its position of building high quality new homes throughout Yorkshire and the Midlands. “We are delighted to welcome both Ken and Nigel to MCI Developments. Their appointments mark an exciting new chapter for the company and we’re confident that their combined extensive knowledge in the industry and proven track record of success will play a significant role in the company’s ambitious growth plans along with creating new beginnings and flourishing communities in both the Midlands and Yorkshire regions,” said Tim Beale, CEO at Keepmoat Homes. Ken Phillips is bringing with him over 30 years’ experience of residential land acquisition and business development within the West and East Midlands territory. As a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor his previous job roles include heading up a housing joint venture business in the Midlands for Cala Group but latterly has operated as Land and Planning Director for both Taylor Wimpey and Redrow Homes. Nigel Robson joins MCI Developments Yorkshire with over 25 years’ experience in housing and development. Having previously worked at Strata as Pre-Development Director, he has gained extensive experience in the speculative housing market both regional and national, delivering land and pre-development processes as well as partnership working with Registered Providers and private developments. “I am absolutely delighted to be joining MCI Developments during an important and exciting time for the business. Alongside growing the portfolio in the Midlands, my focus will be to expand our team with people who are passionate about delivering affordable and multi-tenure developments in the region,” said Ken Phillips. “Having spent the majority of my career within the housebuilder industry, I’m passionate about delivering quality new homes and I’m looking forward to taking the reins and delivering much needed sustainable new homes across Yorkshire, building on repeat business which MCI Developments are renowned for,” added Nigel Robson.